Method for recognizing electronic appliance in multiple control system

ABSTRACT

A method for recognizing an electronic appliance in multiple control system for controlling at least one electronic appliance is disclosed, which includes the steps for setting each ID including a variable value and a fixed value to the electronic appliances, determining whether the electronic appliances of the same model exist among the connected electronic appliances on connecting the electronic appliances to the multiple control system by reading corresponding ID and analyzing the ID value; changing the ID of the connected electronic appliance in case that the electronic appliances of the same model exist; and recognizing the corresponding electronic appliance as the changed ID.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multiple control system forcontrolling a plurality of electronic appliances, and more particularly,to a method for recognizing an electronic appliance in a multiplecontrol system.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, when controlling a plurality of electrical appliances from acentral controller, a process of distinguishing each electricalappliance should be carried out from the central controller prior to thecontrolling process. Therefore, a method of giving a unique identity(ID) to each electrical appliance is used herein.

In the related art multiple control system, shown in FIG. 1, eachelectronic appliance 3 is commonly connected to a network 2 through acommunication line 1.

Also, a central controller 4 sends data to and receives data from eachelectronic appliance 3 through the network 2.

Each electronic appliance has a predetermined unique ID based on theappliance model. Herein, the number of bits for each model ID isidentical. However, the corresponding values are all decideddifferently. More specifically, the ID values are decided so that eachelectronic appliance is given a unique ID. For example, one appliancemay be given an ID value of ‘0000H’, whereas another appliance is givenan ID value of ‘0001H’. Such ID value for each electronic appliance ispre-stored inside the central controller 4.

Therefore, when the central controller 4 gives out a certain operationcommand, the ID of the corresponding appliance is included in the actualcommand, which is transmitted through the network 2. Subsequently, eachelectronic appliance reads the data sent through the central controller4. Then, the appliance having an ID value identical to that of thecommand executes the operation.

A plurality of electronic appliances of the same model may be connectedto the multiple control system. If the ID's of at least two electronicappliances are determined to be identical, then, during a communicationbetween the central controller 4 and the electronic appliances, theappliances having identical ID's may simultaneously respond on thenetwork, which may eventually lead to a confusion in data.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method forrecognizing an electronic appliance in a multiple control system thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitationsand disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method forrecognizing an electronic appliance in a multiple control system inwhich a new method of giving an ID is applied, so that electronicappliances of an identical model may easily be distinguished withoutrequiring a no separate storage of data.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a methodfor recognizing an electronic appliance in a multiple control systemcontrolling more than one electronic appliances includes determining anID including a variable value and a static value for each electronicappliance, reading the ID when connecting the electronic appliance tothe network, analyzing the ID value, and deciding whether anotherelectronic appliance model having the same ID exists among theelectronic appliances connected to the network, and changing the ID ofthe electronic appliance connected to the network if decided that amodel having the same ID exists and identifying the correspondingelectronic appliance with the newly changed ID.

To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the present invention, setting up an ID for each electronicappliance according to its model, reading the ID when connecting theelectronic appliance to the network, analyzing the ID value, anddeciding whether other electronic appliance models having the same IDexists among the appliance models connected to the network, and giving avirtual ID to the electronic appliance connected to the network, ifdecided that a model having the same ID exists, and recognizing data ofa corresponding appliance model by matching with the given virtual ID.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a method for recognizing anelectronic appliance in a multiple control system of the related art;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method for recognizing anelectronic appliance according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a method for recognizing anelectronic appliance according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method for recognizing anelectronic appliance according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a method forrecognizing an electronic appliance according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

In the method for recognizing an electronic appliance according to afirst embodiment of the present invention, a variable ID is used. Whenan electronic appliance 13 is connected to a multiple control system,the electronic appliance 13 transmits its given ID to a centralcontroller 14.

Herein, each electronic appliance 13 is given an ID distinguishedaccording to the type and model of the appliance. The ID includes astatic ID for distinguishing the product model and a variable ID, whichmay be varied in a later process.

Subsequently, the central controller 14 analyzes the static ID of the IDtransmitted from the electronic appliance 13. The central controller 14then determines whether the electronic appliance sending the ID havedata that are identical to those of the other appliances currentlyconnected to the network. If the data of the other electronic appliancesare determined to be identical, then an ID change command is sent to thenetwork.

All identical electronic appliances receive the ID change command.However, only the newly connected appliance changes its ID. Whenchanging the ID, the static ID is left unchanged, and only the variableID is changed. Then, an ID change flag is set.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the composition of the ID of anelectronic appliance is ‘00(static ID)00(variable ID)’, and anotherelectronic appliance of an identical type and model is newly connected,then the variable ID of the newly connected appliance is changed to‘01’. Similarly, when a newly connected electronic appliance is of anidentical type and model as that of an electronic appliance initiallyconnected to the network, then the variable ID of the newly connectedappliance is changed to ‘10’. The ID’s of the electronic appliances aredistinguished by the above-described method.

Subsequently, the central controller 14 stores the changed ID into itsmemory. When the data is exchanged afterwards, the static ID and thevariable ID are transmitted together. Therefore, the central controller14 is able to recognize the model of the electronic appliancecorresponding to the changed ID, and so a separate storage of theappliance model information is not required.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

In the method for recognizing an electronic appliance in a multiplecontrol system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention, a virtual ID is used. When an electronic appliance 23 isconnected to a multiple control system, the electronic appliance 23transmits its given ID to a central controller 24.

Herein, each electronic appliance 23 is distinguished according to itstype and model, and each appliance is given a static ID.

Subsequently, the central controller 24 analyzes the ID transmitted fromthe electronic appliance 23. The central controller 24 then determineswhether the electronic appliance sending the ID have data that areidentical to those of the other appliances currently connected to thenetwork. If the data of the other electronic appliances are determinedto be identical, then an ID change command is sent to the network.

All the identical electronic appliances receive the ID change command.However, only the newly connected appliance changes its ID.

As shown in FIG. 3, when changing the ID, the original ID ‘FFFEH’remains unchanged, and a separate virtual ID ‘0000h’ is newly formed.Then, an ID change flag is set. Therefore, when exchanging data in alater process, the virtual ID is transmitted instead of the original ID.Then, the virtual ID is deleted once the power is turned off.

Industrial Applicability

The method for recognizing an electronic appliance in a multiple controlsystem according to the present invention uses one of a variable ID anda virtual ID. Thus, electronic appliances of an identical type and modelcan be easily distinguished. Additionally, the accuracy in transmittingthe data can be enhanced.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated hereinwith reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers themodifications and variations of this invention that come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for recognizing an electronic appliance in a multiplecontrol system controlling more than one electronic appliances,comprising: setting up a variable value and a static value for eachelectronic appliance; reading the ID when connecting the electronicappliance to a network, analyzing the ID value, and deciding whetheranother electronic appliance model having the same ID exists among theelectronic appliances connected to the network; and changing the ID ofthe electronic appliance connected to the network, if decided that amodel having the same ID exists, and identifying the correspondingelectronic appliance with the newly changed ID.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the static value is set up based on the model of theelectronic appliance.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzingthe ID value is carried out by comparing the static value with apre-determined static value.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting an ID change command to each electronicappliance, when changing the ID of the connected electronic appliance;and changing only the variable value of the ID data corresponding to theelectronic appliance in which an ID change is not carried out.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the changing the variable value increases thevariable value.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronicappliance having its ID changed sets an ID change flag.
 7. A method forrecognizing an electronic appliance in a multiple control systemcontrolling more than one electronic appliance, comprising: setting upan ID for each electronic appliance according to its model; reading theID when connecting the electronic appliance to the network, analyzingthe ID value, and deciding whether other electronic appliance modelshaving the same ID exists among the electronic appliance connected tothe network; and giving a virtual ID to the electronic applianceconnected to the network, if decided that a model having the same IDexists, and recognizing data of a corresponding appliance model bymatching with the given virtual ID.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinthe virtual ID is deleted when a power of its corresponding electronicappliance is turned off.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein theelectronic appliance given a virtual ID sets an ID change flag.